Still Waiting for Summer.

[PastMeBest]

Hi everyone, I though I would brighten up your day with a bit of colour.

The weather up north has been very changeable which is very frustrating as you can't really plan to do anything in the garden. Even though the sun has been shining, we have had a very chilly wind preventing me getting on with the many jobs requiring to be done around the garden. We've also had more than our fair share of rain making the lawn more like a swimming pool.

Having a greenhouse has been of real benefit to me since building it . It has renewed my interest in growing cacti and allows me to get outdoors whilst still being in a warm atmosphere. I have been surprised most days over the past fortnight by being greeted with another of my cacti flowering.

Hopefully the weather will improve during this month and we will all benefit from it.

I hope you are all keeping well, or as well as you can be.

Wishing you all better health.

John aka 🐑🐑🐑🐃🐑🐑🐑

[Caspiana]

Hello John. 🐑😊

I remember when you mentioned building the green house, if I'm not mistaken. 😀🌲🌳 I'm sorry it's still so cold and blustery up where you are. It is getting a bit sickly humid here and that is making breathing a bit more uncomfortable. 😵

Look at your wonderful cacti. They really are so very pretty. And reminds me I just get the picture of my cacti to you. 🌵⬅And no, that's not it. 📷

I really hope you get better outdoor weather soon. Please don't overdo things though. Hoping you and your wife are doing okay.

Sending many warm wishes and lots of love to your black sheep.

Cas xx 🐑🙋🐕

[PastMeBest in reply to Caspiana]

Hi Cas, you are right, I did write a post when I built the greenhouse. It took some doing but it has been worthwhile. Wifey said it keeps me out of trouble.😳😂😂😂

I am hoping the warmer weather is with us soon. The cold isn’t any good for my breathing or coughing.

Both myself and Wifey are quite stable at the moment. Don’t worry about me overdoing things, I’ve learnt from past experience to take it easy.

I hope yourself and Chom are OK and you are still well enough to take him for a walk.🐶

Take Care.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[sassy59]

What beautiful cacti PMB, they’ve brightened my day. Nice here though and should last into next week. I have a friend in Preston who has said how cold it is even in good weather.

Hope you’re doing well and get some much needed warmth very soon.

Take care xxxxxxx

[PastMeBest in reply to sassy59]

Hi sassy, it’s good to know that I’ve brightened up your day with my cacti pictures.

I was caught out again this morning with the beautiful sunshine. Got ready to go for a walk, coat on, oxygen connected and as soon as I stepped outside, the freezing wind hit me. I was very tempted to abandon my walk and return to the warmth indoors but I know the value of exercise so I gritted me teeth and off I trot with Black Sheep (alright for him with his wooly coat). I was pleased to get back to a hot drink ( yes, I do occasionally drink something other than Guinness) and a Pork Pie.😳😂😂😂

Hope yourself and Pete are OK.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[sassy59 in reply to PastMeBest]

Good for you to carry on John, well done. We’re both doing ok thanks. Hope you stay as well as you can and that your wife is well too. Take care xxxxx

[Katinka46]

Exquisite. What a joy. Thank you.

Kate xxxx

[PastMeBest in reply to Katinka46]

“Thanks” Kate, you’re welcome.

Hope you’re back home and feeling better.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[Watfordgirl]

Hello PMB - wow! Your cacti are beautiful. They obviously like being in your greenhouse as much as you do, though you probably aren’t blooming, at least not literally. I think the temperature should go up this weekend and if the wind drops you should be able to get in your garden. Take it easy and I hope you and your wife keep as well as you can be. Love to the black sheep. 🌵🌵🌵

Sue xxx

[PastMeBest in reply to Watfordgirl]

Hi Sue, they certainly are beautiful and always amaze me with the display they put on. I do like being in the greenhouse. It’s nice and warm, peaceful and I can see and hear the birds in the garden. To stop me working too hard, I have been known to take some refreshments in with me.😋

Myself and Wifey are quite stable at the moment and Black Sheep is as mischievous as ever.

Best Wishes.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[Watfordgirl in reply to PastMeBest]

I’m really pleased to hear that things are bumping along smoothly, so to speak. Take care. xxx

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

What beautiful plants, I remember my uncle growing cacti when I was just a bairn. He gave my mum one and I looked after it, gave us so much pleasure. Thank you for bringing back a lovely memory for me. Love Bernadette 😳 xx

[PastMeBest in reply to Damon1864]

Hi Bernadette, I wonder what sort of cactus it was that your uncle gave you?

I still have happy memories of buying my first cactus. I had gone to the Garden Centre to buy bedding plants and returned with a Peanut Cactus (Chamaecereus Silvestrii)⬅️me showing off. When I managed to get it to flower, I was hooked on cactus and have been ever since.

Take Care.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[Damon1864 Volunteer in reply to PastMeBest]

It was like that one with yellow flowers, it was so beautiful.xxx😊

[PastMeBest in reply to Damon1864]

Hi Bernadette, the cactus with yellow flowers is a Parodia Chrysacanthion. Grows solitary, quite easy to look after and free flowering.

John

[Hidden]

You’ve opened my eyes as far as cacti are concerned, John. I’ve always concentrated on tomatoes in my greenhouse but have found then too demanding now. Do you need any special equipment for cacti? You will have amassed a great deal of knowledge about them I imagine, is practical to start from scratch late in life?

[PastMeBest in reply to Hidden]

Hi Don, the main thing needed to give you any chance of growing cacti successfully is knowledge, but you’ll know that from your experience of growing tomatoes.

Some cacti are easier to grow and flower than others. It is a matter of reading up on the cacti you are interested in to see what conditions they need and whether you can give them. If you can there is no reason why you can’t grow them successfully. Just remember Don, you are never too old to learn something new if you really want to.

I hope you are well enough to get out and about in your camper with Midge when the weather improves. It was interesting reading about your travels.

Take Care.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[skischool]

Beautiful creations,who would imagine such charming flowers would erupt from such barren looking plants,yes i am oop north too and that chilling wind is still prevalent.hopefully warmer by the weekend.keep on cultivating and bringing colour into the world...........Ski's and Scruffs x

[PastMeBest in reply to skischool]

Hi skischool , cacti are very varied in their form which is why they appeal to me so much. The added bonus is that they produce such beautiful flowers.

I’m hoping the coming week brings better and warmer weather. This persistent chilly wind doesn’t do me any good.

I hope yourself and Scruffs are well.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[Robin77]

Gorgeous! I love cacti, they're so surprising.

[PastMeBest in reply to Robin77]

Hi Robin77 , “Thanks” for your comments.

Take Care.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[O2Trees]

Lovely

[PastMeBest in reply to O2Trees]

Hi O2Trees , “Yes” they are lovely. I get a lot of pleasure from growing them.

Wishing you good health.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[megshafer]

What beautiful cacti!! Thank you for sharing. Thinking spring and flowers now!

Meg

[PastMeBest in reply to megshafer]

"Thanks" Meg. Your comments are much appreciated.

John

[Judith41]

Such cheerful colours. Thank you PastMeBest

[Judith41 in reply to Judith41]

They have lit up a very murky morning. 😊 xx

[PastMeBest in reply to Judith41]

Hi Judith, I am glad my pictures have cheered you up a bit.

John

[Hacienda]

They are a treat to see John, Thanks for posting XXX

[PastMeBest in reply to Hacienda]

Hi Hacienda , "Thank You" for your reply. I may treat you with some more photos in the future.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[MoyB]

Lovely picture, John. You obviously have 'the touch'. Many years ago, my father presented my mother with a cactus. He told her it would have beautiful flowers. Years later it was consigned to the bin. Mother had waited patiently but nothing appeared. Father was in the dog house! I've had some minor success with cacti but not for some time. Maybe I'll try them again. If you get too cold go in for a hot toddy - it'll make a change from Guinness! xx Moy

[PastMeBest in reply to MoyB]

Hi Moy, I started growing cacti many years ago but had to give them up due to other commitments and only started growing them again a few years ago. I'm not sure if I have green fingers or just enough knowledge needed to grow them. Possibly a bit of both.

I'm sorry to hear that your father was in the doghouse because the cactus he bought for your mother didn't flower. I suspect he had purchased a cactus that either had to be very old or very big before it could flower. As you can see from my pictures, if you get the right type, they will flower when quite small.

A hot toddy doesn't sound very appealing to me but if it was followed by a Guinness chaser, well that would be a different matter and of course enjoyed with a Pork Pie.😳😬😂😂😂

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[Shirleyj]

They are beautiful, you've definitely got the touch 🌵🌻🌵🌸x

[PastMeBest in reply to Shirleyj]

Hi Shirley, your reply is much appreciated.

Take Care.

John

[Carnival567]

The cacti look lovely and I should think they like the greenhouse as much as you do. Cold here too, south east Wales. Very untypical and everyone moaning! All the best xx

[PastMeBest in reply to Carnival567]

Hi Carnival567 , when the weather is too cold, windy or raining it is always good to take refuge in the greenhouse and spend a bit of time tending my cacti.

The weather was lovely yesterday but unfortunately I had to take Wifey for an MRI Scan, do the weekly shopping and a few other jobs so I didn't manage to get into the garden. It looks like it is going to be a great day today so I'll be pottering about in the garden and hopefully won't overdo it.

I hope the weather has also improved in Wales for you as well.

Best Wishes.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[Carnival567 in reply to PastMeBest]

Lovely at the moment and the forecast is good xx

[mskpjb]

You've inspired me today. Since I moved and left my lovely garden behind I've been quite nostalgic. Out on my mobility scooter and seeing other gardens has set me thinking about my cherry tree, my pieris,my azaleas,my clematis, my roses etc etc all the things I planted over the years. There is a garden where I'm living at present and I pay to keep it tidy but I don't feel any empathy with it. Now that I can't don my wellies and gloves and go and have a good old dig ( I'd probably chop through my oxygen cannula ! ) I need an outlet for my need to nurture. I shall start to investigate growing cacti ! Thank you, Sheila x

[PastMeBest in reply to mskpjb]

Hi Sheila, having only moved here just over 4yrs ago and leaving behind a garden that I had tended for over 30yrs I know what you must have felt like leaving your lovely garden behind.

The good thing about this garden is that it hadn't been very well looked after and was mainly lawn (25% grass & 75% weeds) so I basically had a blank canvas to work with. Unfortunately shortly after moving here I became ill so it is still very much a work in progress. I also have someone do the heavy work when needed. I've nearly pulled myself over a few times when I've forgotten I was attached to my oxygen cylinder.

If you are thinking of growing cacti, Mammillaria, Rebutia, Echinopsis species are quite easy to grow and flower.

Take Care.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[mskpjb in reply to PastMeBest]

Oh thanks for that John. I've made a note of those species. I also sent for a little book to tell me how to start. Quite excited now ! Thanks again, Sheila x

[CELAT06]

Beautiful, glad you’re managing to get out and get some things done.

[PastMeBest in reply to CELAT06]

"Thank You" CELAT06 for your reply. A beautiful day today so I'll be pottering around the garden under the watchful eye of Wifey.

Regards.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑

[Hidden]

Beautiful cacti love all the colours very pretty. Majt 😀🌵

[PastMeBest in reply to Hidden]

Hi Majt, the time and effort put into growing cacti can be very rewarding as can be seen from my photos.

Hope you have a good weekend.

John aka 🐑🐃🐑